mounting a phal.

This is a discussion on mounting a phal. within the Phalaenopsis ('moth orchid') Information forums, part of the Frequently Asked Questions category; Hi, I have been looking for some information on mounting phals. I have a few ...

mounting a phal.

Hi, I have been looking for some information on mounting phals. I have a few mounted orchids (12) but no phals., i have a Violacea Buena Jewel that seems to want to grow over the side of the pot, I plan on mounting it on a piece of drift wood and was wondering if i should mount it towards the top of the mount and upside down. I would appreciate any advice by anyone with this experience. Thanks Hank.......

hank
Im not sure about the others, but i always mount my phals upside down so that the crown
doesnt get standing water. Also I noticed that the underside of the leaf is more tolerant
of higher light than the surface.

This is a new one to me. I've never heard of, or seen, any orchid mounted upside down. It seems intuitively wrong. If the underside of the leaves were better catchers and users of sunlight, they wouldn't be the underside, they would be the topside - or at least it would seem that way. What in the world would be a reason a plant would evolve with the wrong side up?

I have seen a lot of phals mounted with the roots against a piece of cork or other wood so the tops of the leaves face outwards, but not down. The when you hang the wood plaque, the leaves can't hold any water in the axis, but they still face the light, not the ground.

Well, I have several mounted on my palm trees and I wasn't aware of the upside down thing, but they are doing fine. At first, they did get a little sunburned on one or two of the leaves, but that didn't stop them from pushing flower spikes. I wrappped the roots in orchid moss and mounted them with the stretchy green tape. They are also outside. They drain relatively easy when it rains. They seem to like the symbiosis that they have with the palm trees where the water comes down out of the crown and pours down the trunk. The moss gets wet, and the water pours out of it so they seem to get only what they need. The roots have also grown out of the moss and have taken over the job of holding the plant on the tree. I could use some ideas on mounting dendrobiums on a tree.

Mounting Phals

..... the leaves still face up, but the phal hangs down as it would if growing on a wire or tree in nature.

Cheers,
BD

Bruce, can you post some photos of the ones which you have mounted? I am not picturing too clearly, what you have described here.

I have seen orchids, mounted upright, hanging down and placed diagonally but right now, I believe the specie, location, rainfall pattern, available light, etc. have much bearing on the position selected.

OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.